Petunia plant named ‘DRAYBAROQU’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘DRAYBAROQU’ is disclosed, characterized by a mounded growth habit, very well branched form, medium vigor and an abundance of large pink flowers. The new variety is a  Petunia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Petunia sensu wijsman.

Variety denomination: ‘DRAYBAROQU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petuniavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting inthis new variety was made during September of 2011.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asPetunia ‘cv . 11-4751’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Petunia ‘cv. 11-4528’. The new variety wasdiscovered in May of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlingsresulting from the 2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by terminalvegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhousein Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in May of 2012 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in morethan 25 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DRAYBAROQU’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DRAYBAROQU’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

-   -   1. Mounded growth habit.    -   2. Very well branched plants with medium vigor.    -   3. Flowers color is pink.    -   4. Flower size is large.    -   5. Abundant flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ are similar to plants of theseed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Mounded growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a trailing        growth habit.    -   2. Smaller flower size than the seed parent.    -   3. Flowers color is pink. The seed parent has purple flowers.    -   4. More flowers per plant than the seed parent.    -   5. Less vigor plant than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Mounded growth habit, whereas the pollen parent has a        ball-shaped growth habit.    -   2. Larger flower size than the pollen parent.    -   3. Flowers color is pink. The pollen parent produces flowers        that are pink with dark veins.    -   4. More flowers per plant than the pollen parent.    -   5. Less compact plant than the pollen parent, with less        branches.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ are comparable to the patentedcommercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY1’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,974. The twoPetunia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, the new variety ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of this comparator is larger than the flower of        the new variety.    -   2. Flower color is white, whereas the new variety has a pink        flower.    -   3. The plant is very vigorous, whereas the new variety has        medium vigor.    -   4. Average branch length of the comparator is longer than        branches of the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRAYBAROQU’ can also be comparable to thepatented commercial variety Petunia ‘DANRAY2’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,966. The two Petunia varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘DRAYBAROQU’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Flower size of the comparator is larger than the flower of        the new variety.    -   2. Flower color of this comparator is darker pink.    -   3. The plant is very vigorous, whereas the new variety has        medium vigor.    -   4. Average branch length of the comparator is longer than        branches of the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DRAYBAROQU’ grown in a nursery, in a 13 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 90 days from a rooted cutting.FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DRAYBAROQU’ plants grown outdoors and ingreenhouse during the Spring, Summer and Autumn, in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 35° C.during the day and from 17° C. to 23° C. during the night. General lightconditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia ‘DRAYBAROQU’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Cutting.-   Time to initiate roots: 10-14 days.-   Root description: Fibrous.-   Plant:-   Age of plant described: Approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting.-   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm.-   Growth habit: Mounded.-   Height: Approximately 20 cm.-   Plant spread: About 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Medium.-   Branching characteristics: Very well branched.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—8.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 25 cm.        -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—About 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144 B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Good.-   Internode length: 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 25 per branch.        -   Average length: 5 cm.        -   Average width: 2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Velvety.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Velvety.        -   Aspect.—90 degrees.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 B.            Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 C. Mature            foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A. Mature foliage            under side: RHS Yellow-Green 148 B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 B. Venation color under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 0.7 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS            Yellow-Green 146 A. Texture: Velvety.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring, Summer, and Autumn.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 30 days.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Axillary, single flower,    salverform shape, erect habit.-   Rate of flower opening: 2 to 3 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 3-6 days.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: About 70.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—4.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 150 B.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Length.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—About 0.4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length from throat.—About 3 cm.        -   Width.—About 3 cm.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Texture.—Velvety, upper and lower surfaces.        -   Apex.—Blunt.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Wavy.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple N 74 B. Lower            surface: RHS Purple 75 B.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS Red-purple 73 A. Lower            surface: RHS Purple 75 B. Flower throat (inside): RHS White            155 C. Flower throat, vein: RHS Green 143 C. Flower tube            (outside): RHS Purple 75D. Flower tube, vein: RHS            Yellow-Green 144 B.        -   Fading.—Petals fading to: RHS Red-Purple N74 C.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.4 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144 A. Lower Surface:            RHS Yellow-Green 144 B.-   Peduncle: Not present.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144 B.        -   Orientation.—Straight, average angle of attachment 45            degrees.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—5.        -   Filament length.—About 2 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—About 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Yellow 161 B.-   Pollen:    -   -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Yellow 161 D.        -   Amount.—Abundant.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Styles.—Length: about 2.0 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-green 144 D.            Stigma: Shape: Rounded. Color: RHS Yellow-green 144 B. Ovary            Color: RHS Yellow-green 144 A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: About 60 light Brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5    mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule. Colors not accurately    measured with RHS chart.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Petunia have been observed. Typical    well known diseases include: Botrytis cineria, Fusarium, Pythium,    Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia species. Typical well known pests    include: Leaf miners, spider mites, thrips and possibly    caterpillars.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates a range between 5° C. to 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plantnamed ‘DRAYBAROQU’ as herein illustrated and described.